SIRAHA— An agreement has been reached between Karjanha Municipality and Phul Kumari Mahato Memorial Hospital in Siraha district to provide free medical treatment to the poor.

A meeting chaired by Dr Shiva Shankar Sah, medical director for the hospital, also decided to resume operation of the long-closed ‘mother and newborn security programme’ launched by the hospital, said the municipality mayor Ganga Paswan.

The free-provided service includes delivery, childbirth through a surgery, and bed service for 24 to 48 hours depending on severity of a delivery and other medical treatments for the poor. A nine-member committee has been formed in this regard, which is tasked with identifying genuine poor and Dalit people for the service.

Shrestha died on the spot while Rai breathed his last on the way to a hospital in Hetauda, police added. The tractor (Na 6 Ta 442) was heading to Sindhuli district from Phawarbari in Makawanpur by supplying construction materials.

Those seriously hurt in the incident are Shivamaya Magar, Shakti Rai, Mohan Rai, Krishna Rai and Tilak Rai. The incident site is near Makawanpur-Sindhuli border along Dharan-Chatara road section.